Thermometer-case.



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Patented Nov. 111, 1911.

H. R. SMITH. THERMOMETER CASE. APPLICATION FILED 11111.18, 1911.

H. R. SMITH.

l THERMOMETER CASE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1911.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS*S}IEET 2.

Suva/nto@ Hayward 5 Z1/w sage of fumes UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

HOWARD R. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

THERMOMETER-CASE.

Application led January 18, 1911. Serial and to contain a suitable amount of any wellknown antiseptic fluid, such as formaldehyde or the like, whereby the thermometers may be properly sterilized and thegerm life thereon killed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character having a removable aseptic holder which is adapted to prevent the case from rolling over when laid upon its side and which is of such diameter as to hold the aseptic without allowing any of the fluid to run into the case proper.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for effectually cutting off the aseptic chamber from the thermometer chamber when the thermometer is removed and which means is actuated by the thermometer or thermometers to open said chamber so that it will communicate with the thermometer chamber when the thermometer is placed in the case.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a compartment adapted to contain absorbent material which will prevent the aseptic fluid from passing into the case proper but which will admit of the pasfrom said fluid.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with thc accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this application, and in which z- Figure 1 is an elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig.

3 is a top plan view showing the top open. Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the thermometer case lying upon its side. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a modified form of case adapted for a single thermometer. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional View of a further Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 191i.

modification showing a thermometer actuated valve adapted for either single or double thermometer cases. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of the device in Fig. 5 to double thermometer cases.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l represents an elongated tubular casing having a central partition 2 which divides the casing into separate compartments 3 and 4 both of which are lined with any suitable material so as to prevent the thermometers 5 from coming into contact with the walls of the device, and thus permit a freer circulation -of the sterilizing fumes about the thermometers. A suitable cap 6 is provided and is either screwed upon the casing 1' or hinged thereto in such a manner as to make the joint between the casing and the lid substantially air-tight. The bottom of the casing is provided with a foraminous false bottomv 7. Extending below the bottom is an extension 8 upon which is frictionally held a receptacle 9 provided with a foraminous partition 10 adapted to form, with the bottom 7 and the extension 8, a compartment 11 which is preferably loosely filled with cotton or the like.

' The receptacle 9 is preferably somewhat larger than the tube 1 and of Octagon formation so that when the case is laid upon its side, as shown in Fig. 4, the tube will be prevented from rolling and fluid in the receptacle will not run into the tube. A suitable clamp 12 is provided so that the case may be properly secured to the pocket of the wearer.

Only enough of the aseptic fluid or other sterilizing medium is placed in the receptacle to accomplish the purpose desired and not enough to overflow into the tube when the case 1s laid upon its side. In case, however, that some of the fluid should accidentally pass the partition 10 thecotton or other absorbent material in the compartment 11 would take up the liquid and prevent its passage into the tube. This precaution need not be taken when the germicide is of such a nature that it will permit the thermometer to come into contact therewith without being harmful thereto. The holes in the partition 10 are arranged in the center thereof so as to provide a further barrier around the edges of the partition which'will prevent the aseptic fluid from flowing into the absorbent compartment.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 an elongated casing 13 is shown having a screw cap 14 to close its upper end and a screw plug 15 to close its lower end. The casing is divided into se arate compartments 16 and 17 by means ot an inclined partition 18 which is centrally apertured, as at 19. The aperture is closed by a ball valve 20 which is supported upon a light spiral spring 21 Whose opposite end is mounted upon the bridge piece 22 extending across the compartment 17. The partition 18 is located across the casing at such la distance from the upper end that the thermometer 23, when pressed into the casing by the cap 14,-will engage the ball 2O and force the same off its seat so that the fumes of the aseptic liquid in the chamber 17 may be given free access to the thermometer in the compartment 16.

In the modified formshown in Fig. 6, the casing 24 is provided with a horizontal partition 25 which is apertured at 26 and seated in the a erture is a valve 27 held in position by a lig t s iral spring 28. This valve has extending rom its upper surface an upright 29 upon which 1s supported, in a secure manner, a platform 30 with which the thermometer is adapted to contact. This platform may be made of sufficient width toermometers which manner shown 1n rm a seat for two th may be divided in the Figs. 1 to 4.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 7 the ball valve is of sufficient size to ermit two thermometers to rest thereon. T is arrangement is s' 'lar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 with the exception that the ball is large enough to accommodate two Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A thermometer case comprising a tubular body, an apertured bottom therefor, a tubular extension on the body, and aseptic receptacle removable from said extension and having an angular formation, said receptacle coacting with the bottom and extension to form a compartment.

2. A thermometer holder comprising a tubular casing, a partition separating said casing into separate compartments, one of said compartments adapted to receive the steriliz'ing fluid, and means controlled by a thermometer inthe casing for preventing access of the sterilizing luld to the thermometer compartment.

3. A thermometer holder comprising a tubular casing, a partition separating said casing into separate compartments, one of said compartments adapted to receive the sterilizing iuid, and a thermometer operated valve for preventing access of the sterilizing Huid to the thermometer compartment.

In testimon whereof I affix my signature in presence ofi7 two witnesses.

HOWARD R. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. SMITH, M. P. RUSH. 

